“Photo ID cards are the building block of any security system,” Parsons told commissioners at the personnel/ways and means committee meeting. His office is responsible for issuing the badges to county employees, he said, but there is no requirement that all offices use them.

The issue of having all county employees wear photo badges came up during a recent meeting of the Lenawee Emergency Planning Committee, he said. He was then directed by commissioner Cletus Smith, R-Madison Twp., to present a draft policy to

commissioners.

Parsons said policies requiring employees to wear photo ID badges are common at all levels of government in the nation and in Michigan. A policy is needed to strengthen security in county buildings, he said. The badges also help visitors recognize who to approach with questions, he said.

“Curtis and I are very passionate about this,” said county Health Officer Patricia Bourgeois. The badges are an important method of recognizing county employees and whether people are authorized to be in secure areas, she said.

During a recent incident, the Lenawee County Human Services Building had to be evacuated while a gas leak was investigated, Bourgeois said. Few people in the crowd that gathered outside wore badges.

“You don’t know who worked in that building and who didn’t,” she said.

“I do have some big concerns about the safety of our employees,” Smith said.

All federal and state government buildings have requirements for employees to wear photo badges, he said.

“It’s just the right thing to do for the safety of our employees and the safety of the people who come to them,” Smith said.

Commissioner David Stimpson, R-Tecumseh, said he supports a policy but questioned enforcement. Some departments have always resisted wearing badges in public, he said. He made a motion to table a vote until next month to allow opponents a chance to be heard.

The discussion has been going on for several years, said commissioner K.Z. Bolton, D-Adrian.

“This is something we have been mulling over and putting aside,” she said.

Smith said the delay will allow time to check with state and federal offices at the Human Services Building on participating with a photo badge requirement.